Village Pantry robbery suspect caught; former pastor enters plea in hidden camera case in In Briefs

Village Pantry armed robbery suspect caught

Lafayette police on Thursday arrested 18-year-old Joshua Phillip Smith, who they suspect robbed the Village Pantry at 601 Union St. about 10:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Smith faces preliminary charges of armed robbery, resisting law enforcement, battery on law enforcement and possession of paraphernalia, according to police.

Police accused Smith of walking into the Village Pantry, showing a handgun and demanding money from the cashier.

2 arrested during foiled burglary Friday

Tippecanoe County Sheriff Deputy Jason Freeman caught two would-be burglars around 1 a.m. Friday at the Crop Production Services, 9009 Indiana 28 West near Clarks Hill.

Arrested were Shey J. Parke, 21, of Colfax, and Dwayne T. Trippett, 21, of Crawfordsville. Both are charged with theft, criminal mischief, trespassing and two counts of burglary. Deputies declined to say what was stolen and noted that the investigation is ongoing.

Deputies ask anyone with information about the break-in to contact the sheriff's department at 765-423-9321 or the WETIP hot line at 800-782-7463.

Ex-pastor enters plea in hidden camera case

An initial not guilty plea was entered Friday morning by a former Lafayette pastor accused of installing hidden cameras and recording people using the women's restroom at Sunrise Christian Reformed Church.

Robert A. Lyzenga, 56, was formally charged Thursday in Tippecanoe Superior Court 1 with five counts of child exploitation, all Class C felonies, and five counts of voyeurism, all Class D felonies.

Prison time given for business break-ins

A former Lafayette man was sentenced Friday to four years in prison for a string of business break-ins last spring.

Shane M. Brasseur, 30, of Vincennes, pleaded guilty last month in Tippecanoe Superior Court 1 to burglary, a Class C felony, and two counts of theft, a Class D felony.

His prison time will be followed by three years on community corrections and three years on probation.

The charges stem from burglaries over the Memorial Day weekend at Trash Kans, Rescue Rooter and P&B Foundations on South Farabee Drive and Lehnen Furniture on Builder Drive. Items stolen included drive cameras, power tools, couch cushions and an employee's sneakers.

Brasseur was identified as a suspect, based a wallet that contained his driver's license that was found in a truck that was broken into at Trash Kans.

- Staff reports

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Village Pantry robbery suspect caught; former pastor enters plea in hidden camera case in In Briefs

Lafayette police on Thursday arrested 18-year-old Joshua Phillip Smith, who they suspect robbed the Village Pantry at 601 Union St. about 10:50 p.m. Wednesday.